News & Events

Blue Jays Invest in Improving Fan Safety

With the approach of the 2018 Major League Baseball season, many teams including the Toronto Blue Jays have increased safety measures for the protection of their fans. In the offseason, the Rogers Centre underwent construction to extend the range of the protective netting down to the end of each dugout. By expanding the scope of the protective netting, it is less likely, but still possible, that a spectator will be hit by a foul ball or errant bat.

Spectators at the Rogers Centre accept a certain level of risk that comes with sitting in the stands. You may not be able to successfully sue for damages simply because you are hit by a ball (or a bat) in the stands – it depends on the facts of each case.

The owners of the Rogers Centre (and all sports venues) have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to keep their fans as safe as reasonably possible. By extending the scope of the netting the Rogers Centre is taking a reasonable step in an effort to keep their fans as reasonably safe as possible.